Wanderers can match it with the best when it really matters

THEY won't say it publicly, but the Western Sydney Wanderers were utterly desperate to prove their championship credentials against the league's best team.

Though they didn't win, the match itself provided hope. They survived Brisbane's efforts to spin them into a trance, fought back and gained the upper hand. All they needed was a goal. It looked increasingly as though it wouldn't come; the litany of scrappy chances tallied up as time ticked away.

Just as Brisbane looked ready to etch their name on the premier's plate, substitute Labinot Haliti did what he does best. All legs and arms, Haliti is the Wanderers' most unorthodox player and it took his ungainly approach to find the goal.

Aaron Mooy controls the ball for the home side. Photo: Brendan Esposito

There's plenty Tony Popovic will think he can correct - Mark Bridge and Santalab's finishing for starters - and plenty that reinforces that they're on the right track. This was the kind of game you want to play before the finals, not in the finals.

Yet Popovic must look on in envy at Berisha's raw, unencumbered brilliance - a striker who makes his own goals because he sees the opportunity others don't. This display from the Albanian reaffirmed he is very much a Brisbane player, even if next year's contract will take him to Melbourne Victory.

But who could deny that he isn't delivering for his existing paymasters? Fresh from scoring the match-winner last week, this was a goal borne of his trademark doggedness, an attribute as valuable as any of his many others.

Credit should go to James Donachie, the temporary right back, for breaking down the Wanderers on the left and then playing a one-two with Thomas Broich that laid the path for Dimi Petratos to advance further forward. He cut back for Berisha, who was left with the following task: trap the ball, regain balance, sidestep Aaron Mooy and then beat Ante Covic in less than a second.

Needless to say, he was soon celebrating in front of the Wanderers' fans, chest puffed out; the kind of defiance only champions can show. He is most certainly in this category.

It all served to frustrate the Wanderers, not to mention their fans, who became rowdier and more agitated as the dusk turned to night. With each blow of Kris Griffiths-Jones' whistle against the hosts, they bayed for his blood. Just after the half-hour mark, the referee even felt compelled to calm the normally sedate Popovic. The crowd didn't care for that much, either.

When Brisbane's Liam Miller was eventually carded for a clumsy foul, the fans exploded with joy. Still no goal, however.

Western Sydney were starting to make chances but they were fashioned with hope rather than elegance, with most joy coming down Youssouf Hersi's right-hand side.

After half-time, the balance had shifted in favour of the hosts, who pinned the Roar deeper and deeper.

But it wasn't until Haliti scrambled in the box that a breakthrough was achieved. It's just the sort of the trait that might come in handy should these two meet again later in the year.